Intelligent Manufacturing Blog

The heart of your plant’s manufacturing operations is the manufacturing execution system (MES). If the heart is not performing like it once did though, then it may be time to consider intervention. Below are 10 warning signs that it is time to either replace your current MES or give it some much-needed attention and updates.

If it is doing its job, a manufacturing execution system (MES), fulfills the role of system of record by collecting “all” data associated with the manufacturing process. The traditional way to tap into this data avalanche is with reports. A useful system has many reports covering all the parts of the database.

Data is constantly the talk of the town. Manufacturers have the ability to collect data on almost anything. So the question becomes, what data should you collect? We identified eight key performance indicators (KPIs) that manufacturers should track and why.

When a car crashes into an object, there’s a timeframe of 60 milliseconds to save the driver’s life. Six one-hundredths of a second are all it takes for the driver to make contact with the airbag. And if not the airbag, then the dashboard or windshield.

In an industry where milliseconds mean life or death, perfection is the standard.

In the manufacturing world, things don’t always go as planned. It’s common for manufacturers to end up with broken part tabs, scratched car doors or stripped screws.

This causes production slowdowns, long delays and low-quality products which ultimately leads to unhappy customers, lost revenue and possibly a dreaded recall. These consequences make defect tracking and reporting especially important.

“Intelligent manufacturing” (IM) means using the combined intelligence of people, processes and machines, to impact the overall economics of manufacturing. Its purpose is to optimize manufacturing resources, improve business value and safety, and reduce waste – both on the floor and in back office operations, all while meeting customer demands for delivery and quality.

Innovative technology that promises reduced scrap and waste, cost savings and quality improvement is popping up everywhere in the manufacturing industry. But when it comes to Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), there are a number of trends to avoid in your long-term strategy for growth.

The Manufacturing in America 2016 symposium, March 23rd-24th, will feature 54 booths, 100 technical learning seminars and 50 exhibits. With so many things to see and attend, here are six reasons why you should make time to visit the Pyramid Solutions booth.